Graduates

Member of
A-kasse

Graduates in Denmark coming from non-EEA countries

If you are a Graduate of a Danish educational institution, and comes from a country outside the EEA area, you will only being eligible for getting unemployment benefits as graduates if:

  • you have a residence- and workpermit, which gives right to work FULL-time (37 hours/week), and
  • your residence- and workpermit must not be conditional on you not receiving public benefits, e.g. benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act, state study grants, housing benefits or unemployment benefits.

Furthermore the international graduate must be able (like all others seeking unemployment benefits) to take over working with 1 day's notice.

Job seeking permit

As an international (non-EEA) student here in Denmark your study-permit also gives you right (working-permit) to work 20 hours per week.
Together with the study-permit you will in most cases get a 3 years jobseek-permit, which allows you to stay up to 3 years in Denmark after completion of study to seach for job.
Som educations only gives right to a 6 months jobseek-permit.

This jobseek-permit also give right to work 20 hours per week. However you can apply for a work permit without limitations, which gives you right to work anywhere you want and for full-time.

Be aware that the Job seeking permit is conditional on you not receiving public benefits, e.g. benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act, state study grants, housing benefits or unemployment benefits.
Therfore you can not get unemployment benefits ("dagpenge").

If you have other kind of work permit

If you have a residence- and work permit that meets the requirements, the following scenarios will apply regarding Unemployment benefits after graduation:

Getting unemployment benefits from day 1 after study

Remember to be member of an A-kasse at least one year before finish study. It is free as long as you study.

Getting unemployment benefits from 1 month after study

If you have less than one year left - and have not been member of an A-kasse at least one year, then you can still get benefits as a graduate but the you will get one month waiting period before can start receive benefits. And you must apply for membership at least 14 days/2 weeks after ending study.
Nomally you can apply for membership as an graduate up to 6 months before ending study. Tell the A-kasse (when you send application online) that you want to apply for member with graduate status. See our guide for graduates here.


This page was last modified on 2024-03-10.


Main topics about A-kasse

Transferring periods of work and insurance from another EEA CountryAs an EU citizen you can transfer acquired rights from Unemployment Insurance between EU contries. Be aware that there are some requirements and deadlines that are important to meet. And you have to use a PD U1 Form. Read more here..
Transferring unemployment benefitsUnder certain conditions you can go to another EU country to look for work and continue to receive your unemployment benefits from the country where you became unemployed. And you have to use a PD U2 Form. Read more here..
Unemployment benefits ("dagpenge")Remember you have to be member of an A-kasse for 1 year before you can claim Unemployment benefits ("dagpenge"). And you must meet the income-requirement. Read more here..
International graduatesGraduates in Denmark can get Unemployment benefits from the first day after graduation, if they have been member as student of an A-kasse for at least 1 year. Read more...
Residence CardIf you are a non-EU citizen you must have a residence Card which allows you to take any job with one day notice. This is because you must be available for the labor market for being eligible for unemployment benefits ("dagpenge").
Membership fee and taxYou will automatically get a deduction in your tax for your fee to the A-kasse and trade union. There is no ceiling on the amount you can get a deduction for when it comes to contributions to A-kasse, whereas you can get a maximum deduction of DKK 7,000 for a trade union.